It's snowing!!! Gold nugget!

I've not been inspired to blog for a while. But now the many blessings have manifested in a note taking flurry. That's to say "BLOG ON".

There is nothing more beautiful to me than the Sandia and Monzano Mountains in the morning. Then the rose, red, orange or purple sunsets over the west Albuquerque basin. Fills my heart with "home".

After many years of illnesses, and just 16 days after my cousin Earl, my 86 year old Auntie Alice is resting in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. My cousin Lydia asked me to say a few words, if I wanted to do so. I was hesitant at first, but the morning of the Celebration of Life, I woke & started writing copious notes on what I might say to honor the last of the Garcia girls. How do you condense 86 years? Or, in my case, 63 years of her influence on my life. So many memories.
Auntie wrote family events in her Bible.
She:
 recorded my birth date and time, among others, in her Bible.
Took my 3 cousins(her kids), brother and me to our first drive-in movie to watch Frankenstein. Scared the daylights out us cause we could hear girls screaming in other cars.
Showed us how she caught  ducks by swimming under water and snatching them by their webbed feet.
Loved to sing, drink beer, tell stories--often greatly embellished.
Her favorite dance was the Jitterbug.
Would stab a pork roast and jam garlic cloves into the holes to slow roast. Yummy.
Was very interested in world events and made sure we could properly pronounce foreign leaders' names. Her favorite was Chiang Kai Shek. Like a maestro waving a wand she would instruct our diction.
Was loving, funny, infuriating, fearless, forgiving, accepting, hard working, and strong.
Showered my sister with much needed love at a crucial time
She sang a song 2 days before she died.
I never saw her cry.
She giggled instead of laughing out load.
Often said "So no le gusta, Que as vaye a su casa, que no?"
The day before her passing she said "Good-bye, Good-bye" while waving her fingers at my sister and me. Her usual words were "Go with God and be safe my hitos."
I was also one of the pallbearers.
She will be missed.

Between Earl and Auntie' s deaths I attended my friend's son's wedding. My Sis went with me and g or to meet some of my crazy, twisted friends. The wedding was also great. God bless this union

Seventeen days after Alice,  on Feb 7, my 76 year old cousin Tane' passed. I didn't get the opportunity to sit with him and record family memories. His demise brought our families together again. Fortunately to give support and lift each other up. R.I.P. cousin. You will be missed.

Today, Feb 16, 2015, marks 9 years that my son Scott died.

Over the past 30 days, I have shared many memories,  meals, interactions , laughs, and tears with my family. Secured and made family and friend connections.
And, instead of all the above being exhausting, it has been exhilarating because of God's grace to my family and friends.

I forgot to identify the"Golden Nugget". I've been taking a maddening amount of time on my Mom's photo album. Finally finished and lo and behold! There was a wedding announcement of my California cousin's son. It was dated 1985! So I now have a lead to get in touch with them. A nugget that took me 9 years to discover. Thank You Lord!! In deed made of gold.

I hope and pray that our Father God showers you with grace.
Please keep our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in prayer. May God guide us and show His miraculous grace to deal with the current scourge in the middle east.